Page:The Bansberia Raj.djvu/44

26 it is quite clear that among the members of this rich and renowned family, Roghudeb, who alone held one-third share of the whole family estates, was the most important character, and that, as between his two younger brothers and the sons of his uncle, Basudeb, Mukunda, who got nine annas share of Mahomedameenpore, held the foremost phce. In no sense, therefore, could Monohar be equal, far less superior to Roghudeb, the fact being that he was inferior, in position, as well as in estate, not only to him, but also to his younger brother, Mukunda.

Roghudeb who, as we have already stated, got one moiety of the property left by his father, Rameswar, rendered himself more famous by a very remarkable act of generosity. Murshid Kuli Khan was then Nawab of Bengal. He was a very energetic Governor and ruled the country with an iron rod. He curtailed the powers of the Foujdars of the several districts and made them subservient to his authority. The Zamindars of Bengal had become very powerful and it was high time that they should be put down, or at least reduced to a lower level. The Nawab in the exercise of his superior authority ousted them all from their